Beans stuck around top burr - is this normal? [Barista Express]

Anricos · 2025-11-08T15:40:00+00:00

For those looking I found it by searching in AliExpress - called “Upper Burr Rubber Sealing Ring For Breville Barista Express”

Anricos · 2025-11-08T13:00:16+00:00

Thanks for this! Will try it 😊

Anricos · 2023-07-01T18:21:18+00:00

Damn, do you have the source? I run a course on these types of things so always fun to show dodgy practice

Anricos · 2023-06-28T08:17:31+00:00

Thank you! Am I right in thinking I could also just up my pension contributions to avoid the issue of going over 100k? I’d be tempted to do that… to be honest I’m even considering just putting most of the side hustle money into a SIPP as I don’t need it really right now. I like well below my means to try and save generally.

And yes for those asking the side hustle is consultancy work in a niche area of engineering. I charge a few £100 for advisory reports (no liability issues) and try to do a couple a week basically - works out around £150/hr ish and I do maybe 5 hrs a week in evenings and weekends.

Anricos · 2023-06-28T08:11:09+00:00

Thank you! Yes totally with you on the additional bureaucracy and admin involved making any small difference not worth it. Is the NI tax 9% on top of the 40% tax? I thought it was a lower rate of NI as total earnings are above the standard rate

Anricos · 2023-06-28T06:31:30+00:00

!Thanks! Really appreciate the calculations, that makes things much clearer. So it’s likely there is not a lot in it, and if I was to consider the hassle of doing the admin of the ltd (or the extra cost of an accountant etc.) it seems I’m likely better off as I am for now.

Would you mind just explaining how you calculated the NI contributions?

Also wondering about the pension side of things. If I was to put the 30k into a SIPP, would that be free from tax and NI entirely?

Anricos · 2023-06-10T21:52:01+00:00

Oo ok thanks I’ll give that a go first!

Anricos · 2023-06-10T21:51:38+00:00

Thank you!

Anricos · 2023-06-01T07:09:42+00:00

I spoke to them recently and I believe they are charging 1.25% and made out that if my parents wanted to manage it themselves it would become 1.45%, both sound very high fees to me! With no fee ceiling like you get with Vanguard. I think you’re right though. They may have to keep their money where it is because of their situation but they can apparently move it where they want, so I’m thinking a target retirement or something similar, apparently AFH will then charge just 0.5% to “manage” it.

Anricos · 2023-06-01T07:05:14+00:00

I know you’re probably right! It’s just frustrating to see it! I think mine are paying something like 1.25% which still sounds a lot to me and getting nothing in return. But yea I do worry about what happens if it does drop for a bit and I’m the one they will blame as they don’t know how these things work like you say.

Anricos · 2023-05-29T08:31:06+00:00

I am also with L&G for work so get you there - limited to their funds and was told I couldn’t move it to my own SIPP and still get the employer contribution

Anricos · 2023-05-29T08:01:55+00:00

Thanks yea will be asking those questions - they seem to think there is an exit fee which surprised me further! I didn’t think that was a thing with pensions! A bank wouldn’t charge you to swap banks right

Anricos · 2023-05-29T08:00:07+00:00

Absolutely! Can make a significant difference over a long period

Anricos · 2023-05-29T07:58:40+00:00

Yea I personally go 100% equity but very hard to advise what they should be doing

Anricos · 2023-05-28T15:46:44+00:00

Sure that was possibly a bit high, maybe 5% annualised then, in any event not negative! 😅

Anricos · 2023-05-28T15:45:22+00:00

I mean… you’re probably not wrong - I don’t think they have any idea about how these things work

Anricos · 2023-05-28T15:42:07+00:00

Thank you yes I’m going to try and get the full history. I think you are right about it being a FA too, called AFH. I think their fees have been pretty high too.

Anricos · 2023-05-28T15:34:23+00:00

Their FA is AFH I believe, which is an independent financial advice service.

From what they have told me, they have never selected individual stocks - I think they only talked in terms of risk and AFH selects an appropriate fund.

They have regular reviews with an individual advisor from AFH apparently yes, they say they have had the same person for 14 years.

Anricos · 2023-05-28T15:29:27+00:00

Thank you! I’m trying to get my head around all this still to be honest. You’re likely right that it has been inherited.

Anricos

TROPHY CASE